Tohe  PAN  AME:RICAN  UNION 

JOHN  BARRETT  : ; Director  General 
FRANCISCO  J.  YANES  : Assistant  Director 


Latin  American 
Foreign  Trade  in  1911 

GENERAL  SURVEY 

(Reprinted  from  the  February,  1913,  issue 
of  the  Bulletin  of  the  Pan  American  Union) 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1913 


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The  foreign  commerce  of  the  20  Latin  American  Republics 
for  tlie  year  1911,  customshouse  values,  was  .52,431,464,101, 
imnorts  -51 ,154,778,637,  an.l  exports  .51,276,685,464.  For  tlie 
])rece(ling  year  the  figures  (revised  and  corrected)  are:  Im- 
ports, .51,058,660,249;  exports,  51,286,201,210;  total,  .52,344,861,459. 
The  increase  in  ini])orts  for  the  year  was  .596,118,388,  and  the  decrease 
in  exports  59,515,746,  a net  increase  of  .586,602,642  in  total  trade. 

The  population  of  these  20  Repiddics  from  the  best  obtainalde 
sources  of  information — estimates  in  many  cases  and  in  these  more 
probably  over  tlian  understatements — amounts  to  about  73,666,000. 
On  this  basis  the  foreign  commerce  for  1911  was  533  ])er  ca])ita — 
imports  515.67  and  exports  517.33. 

The  foreign  commerce  of  the  United  States  for  the  same  year 
was:  Imports,  51,553,067,130;  ex])orts,  52,093,526,846;  total, 
53,646,593,976,  which  shows  a per  capita  of  imports  516.63,  exports 
522.70,  total  539.33.  In  other  wonis,  Latin  Americans  ])er  individual 
bought  within  50.96  and  sold  within  55.37  as  much  to  outsiders  as 
the  people  of  the  L'nited  States  bought  and  sold.  Latin  American 
per  capita  foreign  commerce  exceeded  the  like  ])er  ca})ita  of  Austria- 
Hungary,  Russia,  Italy,  Spain,  Portugal,  any  of  the  Balkan  States, 
Greece,  and  Turkey.  It  was  three  and  one-half  times  that  of  Japan, 
nine  times  that  of  British  India,  and  twenty  times  that  of  China. 

The  per  capita  of  Cuban  commerce — imports  .553.35,  ex))orts 
569.92 — exceeded  that  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  the  per  capita  of 
Argentina  (550.91  and  545.07),  of  LTuguay  (542.88  and  541.65),  and 
of  Chile  (536.40  and  535.40),  exceeded  the  ])er  capita  of  the  United 
States,  France,  and  Germany. 

In  1911,  owing  to  the  fall  in  price  of  a number  of  the  more  consider- 
able Latin  American  ex])orts,  there  was  a slight  decrease  in  exports 
measured  by  values,  l)ut  on  the  whole  an  increase  measured  by 
quantities.  The  annual  increase  in  total  trade  by  values  in  1911  was 
less  than  4 ])er  cent,  imports  9 per  cent,  exports  —0.7  per  cent.  The 
increase  of  1910  over  1909  was  about  10  per  cent,  and  this  figure  may 
be  conservatively  reckoned  as  about  the  normal  j)ercentage  of  increase 
in  recent  years,  although  if  a ])eriod  longer  than  10  years  he  taken  the 

3 


4 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


annual  i)ercentago  of  increase  will  be  foninl  to  average  more  than  10 
per  cent. 


Imports. 

Exports. 

Total. 

1911 

1897 

1 iicrea.se 

Per  cent  of  increase.  14  years 

81,1.54,778,0.37 

415,079,502 

SI,  270.  GSo,  4**4 
495,342,937 

•82,431,404,101 

910,422,499 

739,099,075 

781,342,527 

1,521,041,002 

178 

12.7 

158 

11.3 

107 

11.9 

Of  extraordinary  increase  in  trade  during  this  period  of  14  years, 
Cuba  furnishes  a reniarkalde  instance,  as  shown  in  the  following 
table.  To  avoid  fluctuations  occurring  in  the  case  of  exports,  aver- 
ages for  the  three  years  at  the  heginning  and  the  three  years  at  the 
end  of  the  ])eriod  are  given. 


Imports. 

Exports. 

Average  1909,  1910,  and  Iflll 

Average  1,890,  1897,  and  1,898 

Increase 

Per  cent  of  increase 

8102, 852, 099 
811,2.53,003 

81.32.835,347 
817, 931,. 502 

891 , 599, 030 

8114, 903, 845 

.814 

49.3 

941 

92.6 

This  remarkable  showing,  however,  was  due  to  something  more 
than  the  annual  increase  in  trade  under  normal  conditions.  It  rep- 
resented Cuba’s  emergence  from  the  hamjiering  condition  of  Eurojiean 
sovereignty  into  the  free  state  of  rejuiblican  government. 

The  following  table  shows  annual  increase  under  normal  conditions: 

Argentina. 

Imports.  Exports. 


Average.  1909,  1910,  and  1911 
.\verage  1890,  1897,  and  1898. 

Increase 


8330,  232,  438  83,03,  944,  033 

8105, 9fi0, 007  8117,  200,  007 


8224,271,771  8230,077,906 


Per  cent  of  increase 211  202 

Yearly  per  cent  of  increase 10.2  15.5 


A MOPERN  RAILWAY  CAR  IN  ARGENTINA. 


LATIX  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY. 


t) 


TRADE  BALANCES. 

The  followiiio;  table  gives  the  trade  balances  of  the  Latin  American 
countries  for  the  years  1910  and  1911.  Plus  ( + ) means  excess  of 
exports  over  imports  and  minus  ( — ) excess  of  inpiorts  over 
exports. 


Coimiries. 

Trade  balance. 

1910 

1911 

+ S32,.590,244 
+ 1 4,827,902 
+ 3, 552, 587 

- 447,. 500 

+ 1 1,400,171 
+ 481,754 

- 8,287,004 

+ 47,233,439 
+ 4,591,932 

+ 3,320,483 

+ 851,445,0.85 
+ 4,407,303 

+ 3, 015, 939 

- 530, 21.3 

+ 2 1,6.88,7711 
+ 52, 589 

— 8,206,020 

+ 9,452,817 
+ 4, 055, 244 

+ 7,527,214 

Dominican  Republic 

Haiti 

North  American  Republics 

+ 89,275,348 

+ 72,902,728 

.\reenlina 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

Chile 

Colombia 

Ecuador 

Paraguav 

Peru. . . ' 

Uruguay 

Venezuela 

South  American  Republics 

Total  Latin  America 

+ 20,229,738 
+ 10,945,957 
+ 74,431,001 
+ 11,439,040 
+ 599, 510 

+ 1 4,  548,  040 
+ ‘ 1,337,448 
+ 8, 036, 229 
+ 5.30,419 

+ 5,561,019 

— 40,849,753 

+ 9,401,308 

+ 67,. 509, 057 

— 3,497,002 
+ 4,207,030 
+ 2 5,  .550,  404 

— 2 1,403,410 

+ 5,100,110 

— 1,309,079 

+ 4,289,494 

+ 138,265,013 

+ 49,004,099 

+ 227,. 540, 901 

+ 121,900,827 

1 19ll'J.  2 lilll). 


In  the  consideration  of  interjiational  commercial  statistics  it  is 
necessary  to  disburse  one’s  mind  of  tlie  idea  sometime  entertained 
that  a sur])lus  of  ex])orts  over  im])(»rts,  i.  e.,  a favoral)le  trade  bal- 
ance, means  tliat  the  country  having  such  a sur])lus  is  to  tluit  extent 
accumulating  ca])ital;  or,  conversely,  with  an  unfavorable  balance  is 
growing  ])oorer.  Many  news])a])er  and  magazine  writers  on  com- 
mercial and  linancial  sid)jects  fall  into  this  error,  believing  them- 
selves able  to  com])ute,  almost  to  tha^  exact  dollar,  ])ound,  franc,  or 
mark,  the  Increase  in  ca])ital  or  wealth  in  any  country.  Nothing 
coidd  he  more  fallacious. 

While  there  is  in  truth,  a fundamental  relation  between  the  sum 
total  of  ex])orts  and  of  imports  and  between  this  balance,  favorable 
or  unfavorable!  as  it  may  he,  and  national  ca])ital  increases  or  decreases, 
yet  th,e  two  trades  follow  se])arate,  distinct,  and  by  no  means  ])arallel 
channels,  and  in  sums  total  increase  or  decrease  iji  one.  trade,  owing 
to  conditions  which  may  sometimes  he  reflected  in  both  trades  hut 
most  often  are  not,  has  no  close  relatiojishi])  to  increase  or  decrease 
in  the  other  trade.  In  otlier  words,  it  is  necessary  to  consider 
sej)arately  the  kinds  and  character  of  ex])orts  and  of  im])orts  in  order 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


() 

to  arrive  at  an  uiidtn'standing  as  to  wlietJier  tlie  wJioie  trade  I’roiii  a 
national  standpoint  is  gaiid'nl  or  otlierwise,  always  bearing  in  mind 
that  what  is  henelicial  to  tlie  individnal  may  or  may  not  he  henelicial 
to  the  country,  and,  on  the  otluu’  liand,  that  individnal  loss  maybe 
national  yain. 

It  is  likewise  essential  to  take  into  consideration  questions  of  for- 
eign ca])ital  investments  as  rellec.ted  in  im])orts,  and  the  interest  and 
dividend  payments  on  this  ca])ital  as  reflected  iti  ex])orts.  Does 
tlie  snm  total  of  imports  re])resent  wholly  nurnijig  expenses,  or  does 
it  in  part  rejiresent  foreign  capital  investments  ? Does  the  total  of 
ex])orts  stand  for  tlie  jiroceeds  of  jirolitahle  indnstry  alone,  or  does 
it  in  ])art  stand  for  withdrawals  of  ca])ital  or,  ])erha])S,  reckless 
ex])loitation  and  wasting  of  national  resources? 

d'he  most  notable  fact  ajijiarent  on  the  face  of  Latin  American 
commercial  statistics  is  the  large  increase  in  inqiorts,  in  the  last  two 
years  for  which  com])iled  statistics  are  ])ossihle,  namely,  1910  and 
1911. 

d'he  increase  in  inqiorts  in  1910  over  tln^  ])receding  year  Vvois  over 
SI  71 ,436,000,  and  in  1911  over  1910  over  S96,l  1 8,000;  in  all  an 
increase  of  nearly  S267,o5'),000,  or  30  ])er  cent  in  two  years.  Nearly 
■1150,000,000  of  the  increase  in  the  lirst-mentioned  year  was  in  the 
imjxirts  of  iNlexico,  C’nha,  Argentina,  Brazil,  and  ('Idle,  and  nearly 
-885,000,000  of  the  increase  in  the  second  year  was  in  the  inqiorts  of 
(’nha,  Argentina,  Brazil,  Chik*,  Pern,  Venezuela,  and  rrngnay. 

What  does  this  inci'ease  in  inqiorts  in  two  years  of  30  ])er  cent  for 
the  whole  20  countries  and  much  more  than  30  ].H'r  cent  for  a nnmher 
of  them  represent  ? On  the  face  of  the  lignres  it  might  he  taken  to 
nu'an  oidy  an  increase  in  running  ex])enses  dne  to  an  Increase  in 
po]ndation  and  a.  raising  of  the  standard  of  living,  or  even  to  the 
incnnise  in  cost  of  living  at  a like  standard.  All  of  these  things  have 
had  their  iidlnence  on  augmenting  the  volume  of  imjiorts,  hnt  l)y  no 
means  d(»  they  account  for  the  wh(»le  increase  or  even  for  the  greater 
jiart  of  it. 

'Hie  hnlk  of  the  increase  in  imports  of  8267,500.000  was  additional 
ca])ital  investment,  d'he  collection  of  statistical  data  has  not 
I'eached  (and  never  will)  that  degn^e  of  conqirehensiveness  from 
wliich  we  can  determine  the  nltimate  nse  and  purpose  of  all  imjiorts. 
'Phis  being  true,  it  can  readily  he  seen  that  any  attempt  to  determine 
the  jiercentage  of  ca])ital  investment  must  fail.  However,  from 
known  facts  it  can  he  stated,  with  a reasonable  degree  of  certainty, 
that  the  pro])ortion  of  ca])ital  investment  is  certainly  more  than  one- 
half  and  ])rohahly  two-thirds  of  tlie  whole  increase.  This  cajiital 
investment  does  not  rejiresent  entire  foreign  ca])ital  invested  dnrhig 
the  ])eriod  in  Imtin  America ; it  rejiresents  only  the  ca])ital  indirectly 
invested.  In  tlie  main  this  ca])ital  investment  a])pears  in  the  cnstoms- 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


Jiuuse  r3])()rts  as  imports  of  railway  equipment  ami  material,  material 
for  (lock  im])rovemeuts,  mininji;,  agricultural,  ami  other  industrial 
ilevelojjment ; that  is,  it  is  a |)art,notthe  whole,  of  the importscredited 
under  these  and  other  heads. 

It  is  im])ortaiit  to  have  a clear  understanding  of  the  social  and 
industrial  conditions  of  Latin  America  in  order  to  understand  the 
currents  of  trade,  both  in  imports  and  ex})orts.  These  conditions  are 
unlike  those  in  any  other  part  of  the  world.  From  the  standpoint 
of  production  faitin  America  is  in  general  almost  primitive,  while 
from  the  standpoint  of  consumjition  it  is  abreast  of  Europe  and  the 
L'nited  States.  That  is  to  say,  the  exports  of  Latin  America  are 
those  of  all  new  and  but  slightly  developed  countries,  while  the 
imports,  on  the  other  had,  are  those  of  a highly  developed  and  modern 
civilization.  Its  exports  are  the  crude  products  of  the  mines,  of  the 
forests,  and  of  agricultural  and  pastoral  industries.  It  does  not 
supply  its  own  needs  for  anything  except  raw  material  and  primary 
food  products,  and  liy  no  means  all  of  these.  Of  manufacturing 
there  is  but  Uttle. 

EXPORTS. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  value  in  Lmited  States  currency 
of  the  ex]>orts  of  the  20  countries  and  the  character  and  kind  of  the 
[)rincipal  thereof: 

Mexico. — Value,  .S147,451,hb9 ; classilied  in  general  as  mineral. 
$93,350,000;  vegetable,  $41,529,541;  animal,  $9,212,809;  manufac- 
tured products,  $2,241,771 ; and  miscellaneous,  $1,054,788. 

The  principal  mineral  exports  were:  Gold  (uncoined  bullion), 
$24,050,714;  silver  (uncoinecl  bullion),  $39,257,089;  other  metals, 
including  co]>]ier,  lead,  antimony,  and  zinc,  $18,002,721. 

The  princi|)al  vegetable  exports  were:  Coffee,  $4,330,410;  rubber, 
$7,903,709,  guayule  rubber,  $4,815,140;  chicle,  $1,829,100;  chick 
peas,  $2,103,120;  henequen,  $11,134,000;  ixtle,  $1,044,038;  cabinet 
woods,  $1,953,539;  zacaton  root,  $994,775;  and  vanilla,  $1,535,005. 

The  princi]ial  animal  exports  were:  Hides  and  skins,  $5,003,799; 
and  cattle,  $3,544,899. 

The  ])rinci]ial  manufactured  exports  were:  Sugar,  $745,412;  cotton- 
seed cake  and  meal,  $387,930;  and  palm-leaf  hats,  $300,545. 

Guatemala. — Value,  $10,981,724.  The  principal  exports  were:  Cof- 
fee, $9,273,909;  bananas,  $520,711;  sugar,  $344,015;  hides,  $325,200; 
rubber,  $159,021;  and  woods,  $158,178. 

Salvador. — Value,  $8,400,309.  The  ])r'ncipal  exports  were:  Coffee, 
$5,834,439;  gold  in  bars,  $700,413;  gold  and  silver  amalgams,  con- 
centrates, etc.,  $700,250;  sugar,  $391,790;  and  indigo,  $201,031. 

llonduras. — Value,  $3,024,720.  The  ])rincipal  exports  were:  Gold 
and  silver  ore,  $1,051,075;  and  bananas,  $1,284,171. 


LATIX  AMERICAX  FOKEIGX  TRADE  IX  1!»11 GEXERAL  SURVEY. 


9 


Xicaragua . — Value,  $4,545,075.  TJve  principal  exjtorts  were;  Col- 
fee,  $2,79S,S93  ; gold  and  silver  ores,  $S94,S32  ; ruliber,  1340,182  ; and 
hides,  $196,451. 

Costa  Rica. — Value,  $9,020,150.  Vlie  principal  exixu’ts  were; 
Bananas,  $4,375,505;  coll'ee,  $2,871,485;  gold  and  silver  in  bars, 
$1,183,165;  and  woods,  $91,054. 

Panama. — Value,  $1,754,050.  ddie  ])rincipal  exports  were;  Bananas, 
$1,030,885;  ivory  nuts,  $118,408;  coconuts,  $112,827;  rubber, 
$111,143;  mother-of-])earl,  $62,493;  bides,  $86,729;  l)ar  gold,  $119,580. 

Cuha. — Value,  $122,885,952.  The  jirincipal  ex])orts  were;  Sugar, 
$85,168,933;  molasses,  $1,197,433;  distillates,  $431,543;  tobacco, 
unmanufactured,  $16,888,761;  tobacco,  manufactured,  $13,098,982; 
iron,  gold,  and  copj)er  ores,  $3,874,172;  woods,  $2,109,800;  fruits, 
$1,835,952;  hides  andskins,  $1,707,434;  honey  and  beeswax,  $431,543; 
grains  and  vegetables,  $437,732;  and  sponges,  $299,139, 

Dornimcan  RepaWic. — A^alue,  $11,004,906,  The  piincii)al  exports 
were;  Sugar,  $4,159,733;  cacao,  $3,902,111;  leaf  tobacco,  $1,421,424; 
colfee,  $319,142;  bananas,  $194,759;  beeswax,  $165,317;  hides, 
$104,303. 

Haiti. — Abdue,  $15,475,331.  The  j)rincipal  exports  were;  Coll'ee, 
51,795,659  pounds;  cocoa,  3,228,350  jiounds;  cotton,  4,198,227 
pounds;  cotton  seed,  8,058,080  pounds;  canpu'clic  logs  and  roots, 
75,197,092  pounds;  honey,  190,148  gallons;  orange  ])ecl,  462,725 
pounds. 

Argentina. — A'alue,  $314,956,612,  classified  in  general  as  live 
animals  and  meat  ])roducts,  $163,342,891;  agricultural  ])roducts, 
$135,570,454;  forest  })roducts,  $11,886,966;  mine  ])roducts,  $548,378; 
hunting  and  fishing  ])roducts,  $1,613,386. 

The  princi]ial  live  animals  were  bei'f  cattle,  $7,956,667.  The 
principal  meat  proilucts  were;  Frozen  beef,  $28,88t),578 ; frozen 
mutton,  $6,667,086;  salt  cattle  hides,  $19,053,091;  Hint  cattle  hides, 
$14,353,723;  wool,  $48,979,206;  shee])skins,  $7,493,126;  jerked  be('f, 
$1,611,767;  goat  skins,  $968,672;  bristles,  $1,534,259;  chilh'd  beef, 
$1,464,316;  horse  hides,  $606,31)8;  kidskins,  $276,561;  canned  meat, 
$1,495,093;  meat  extracts,  $1,000,219;  heef  sera])  and  meal,  $877,588; 
butter,  $541,505;  tallow  and  grease,  $11,415,833;  margarin  oil, 
$625,921;  casein,  $420,659;  bones,  $2,376,463. 

The  principal  agricidtural  ])roducts  were;  Indian  corn,  $2,683,599; 
wheat,  $78,254,814;  linseed,  $32,572,590;  oats,  $11,316,302;  hay, 
$659,042;  wheat  Hour,  $4,597,238;  and  bi'an,  $4,473,923. 

The  princi])al  forest  ]uoducts  were;  Quebracho  wood  and  extract, 
of  the  former  $6,690,681,  and  of  the  latter  $4,830,626. 

The  princi])al  mining  product  was  co])per  $399,582,  and  the 
principal  hunting  and  fishing  products  were  whale  oH  $1,169,973, 
nutria  skins  $150,082,  and  ostrich  and  other  ])lumes  $227,601. 

S2541— Rt 2 


10 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


Bolivia.-  132,22(3,150.  T]ie  ])i'iiicipal  exports  were;  Tin, 

$20,529,445;  silver,  $2,097,909;  l)isiuutb,  $8(35,040;  co])])er,  $556,508; 
rul)ber,  $7, 379, 2(25;  and  coco,  $199,310. 

Brazil. — Value,  $325,271,(314.  The  ])rinci])al  ex])orts  were:  Coffee, 
$19(3,515,379;  rul)ber,  $73,352,11(3;  hides,  $8,751,090;  ycrba  mate, 
$9,650,346;  cacao,  $7,992,437;  tobacco,  $4,709,345;  skins,  $3,152,506; 
sugar,  $1,986,836;  cotton,  $4,7(34,143;  gold,  $2,275,440;  manganese, 
$1,255,(301;  Brazil  nuts,  $1,291,053;  carnauba  wax,  $1,897,540; 
bran,  $1,781,392;  cotton  seed,  $878,853;  and  monazite  sand,  $539,965. 

Chile. — $123,884,417;  classilied  in  general  as  animal  products, 
$7,668,669;  vegetable  products,  $5,281,687;  mineral  products,  $107,- 
483,258. 

Under  animal  juoducts  the  princi])al  exports  were : Hides,  $760,728 ; 
wool,  $2,519,150;  chinchilla  skins,  $239,211;  wax,  $128,954. 

Under  vegetable  products  tlu'  ]n'incipal  exports  were:  Bran, 
$414,305;  frijoles,  $669,262;  carob  beans,  $232,917;  barley,  $657,880; 
oats,  $580,276;  nuts,  $678,234;  hay,  $166,742;  wheat,  $505,232; 
wheat  Hour,  $283,221;  quillay  bark,  $158,604;  oak  railroad  ties, 
$78,675. 

Under  mineral  products  the  principal  exports  were:  Nitrate  of 
soda,  $95,867,058;  boi-ate  of  lime,  $2,274,492;  copper,  $4,506,182; 
co])])er  ore,  $2,116,657;  co])])er  and  gold  ore,  $169,921;  iron  ore, 
$417,560;  and  ioiline,  $1,876,277. 

Golomhla. — Value,  .$22,375,899.  The  ])rinci])al  exports  were: 
('olfee,  $9,475,449;  bananas,  $2,172,000;  tobacco,  $332,935;  ivory 
nuts,  $739,419;  nd)l)er,  $900,887;  gold  in  bars,  gold  dust,  and  plati- 
num, $4,097,528;  cattle  hides,  $1,779,790;  and  Panama  hats,  $1,088,- 
821. 

Ecuador. — Value,  $13,558,033.  The  principal  exports  were:  Cacao, 
$7,879,844;  ivory  nuts,  $1,665,951;  Panama  hats,  $1,255,990;  rubber, 
$1,004,029;  coffee,  $729,262;  gold  ore,  $134,516;  gold  bars,  $114,152; 
and  hides,  $256,725. 

Baraguay. — Value,  $4,789,065.  The  pi'incipal  exports  were : Hides , 
$1,134,606;  quebracho  extract,  $634,18(3;  yerba  mate,  $553,629; 
woods,  $979,740;  tobacco,  $534,085;  oranges,  $258,517. 

Peru. — Value,  $36,071,056.  The  princqnrl  ex])orts  were:  Minerals 
and  metals,  $9,343,155;  rubber,  $6,214,355;  sugar,  $6,717,256; 
cotton,  $4,932,038;  alpaca  wool,  $1,291,579;  sheep  wool,  $706,578; 
llama  wool,  $343,616;  guano,  $882,489;  hides,  $441,020;  straw  hats, 
$588,439;  and  ])etroleum,  $532,730. 

Uruguay. — Value,  $46,318,036.  The  principal  exports  for  the  half 
year  were:  Wool,  $15,611,333;  hides  and  skins,  $4,871,978;  meats  and 
extracts,  $4,653,515:  live  animals,  $469,307;  tallow  and  other  fats, 
$635,404;  hair  and  bristles,  $120,673;  l)one  and  bone  ash,  $33,406; 


LATIX  AMERICAN  FOREIGjS^  TRADE  IN'  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY.  11 


residual  animal  products,  $80,881;  oil-producing  grains,  $319,067; 
flours,  $193,731;  vegetables,  $43,460;  and  fruits,  $47,951. 

Venezuela. — Value,  $22,684,384.  The  principal  exj)orts  were: 
Coffee,  $11,390,208;  cacao,  $3,601,371;  balata  rubber,  $2,449,068; 
hides,  $1,167,482;  rubber,  $514,907;  goat  and  kid  skins,  $512,317; 
gold,  $644,212;  live  cattle,  $208,341;  asplialt,  $267,533;  copper  ore, 
$252,907;  sugar,  $143,717;  heron  plumes  (aigrets),  $309,847;  divi- 
divi,  $161,237;  tonka  beans,  $137,173;  and  frozen  beef,  $104,281. 

IMPORTS. 

Latin  American  imports  are  in  general  of  the  same  character  as 
the  imports  of  western  European  countries  and  of  the  United  States, 
except  that  they  do  not  comprehend  any  large  proportion  of  raw 
material  for  use  in  manufacturing. 

Outside  of  foodstuffs,  crude  oils,  lumber,  coal,  some  unwrought 
iron  and  steel,  building  and  construction  material  and  the  like,  the 
great  bulk  of  the  imports  are  articles  of  a high  degree  of  manufacture 
finished  for  consumption. 

A brief  summary  under  general  heads  of  the  imports  of  three 
countries — Argentina,  Brazil,  and  Culia — will  suffice  to  give  some 
idea  of  the  character  of  these  imports. 

Aj'gentina. — ^\mlue,  $355,806,365.  In  broad  classifications  the  im- 
ports were  as  follows:  Live  animals,  $505,884;  food  products,  $28,- 
456,664;  tobacco,  $5,715,051;  wines,  licj^uors,  and  other  beverages, 
$13,385,195;  textiles  and  manufactures  tliereof,  $67,607,152;  oils, 
grease,  etc.,  $15,413,750;  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  products, 
$11,812,926;  paints,  dj’es,  etc.,  $2,371,473;  timber,  wood,  straw,  and 
manufactures  thereof,  $10,088,562;  paper  and  manufactures  thereof, 
$8,409,881;  hides,  skins,  and  manufactures,  $3,489,850;  iron,  steel, 
and  manufactures,  $41,793,169;  other  metals  and  manufactures, 
$15,015,295;  agricultural  implements  and  machinery,  $13,281,601; 
locomotion — railway  cars,  ecpiipment,  rails,  etc.,  carriages,  wagons, 
automobiles,  bicycles,  etc.,  $35,759,418;  earths,  stones,  coal,  etc., 
$32,206,014;  buiidmg  materials,  $32,775,761;  electrical  apparatus, 
$6,483,163;  miscellaneous,  $11,235,558. 

Some  of  the  principal  imports  classified  under  the  headings  above 
were:  Cheese,  $1,908,741;  sardines,  $1,071,751;  sugar,  $3,675,383; 
rice,  $2,033,494;  coffee,  $1,292,588;  yerba  mate,  $5,378,183;  cigars, 
$1,320,410;  smoking  tobacco,  $2,587,257;  sheep  dip,  $1,711,9$"; 
silk  piece  goods,  $2,065,201;  ready-made  clothing,  wool,  $1,220,004; 
aU  wool  piece  goods,  $6,100,571;  part  wool  piece  goods,  $3,080,498. 
Under  cotton:  Yarn,  $1,261,309;  quilts,  $1,048,  202;  lace,  $1,286,326; 
stockings,  $1,675,725;  piece  goods,  bleached,  $3,904,267;  unbleached, 
$1,010,643;  prints,  $3,932,223;  dyed,  $9,527,297;  other  cottons. 


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LATIN  AMEEICAN  FOKEIGX  TRADE  IX  1911 GEXERAL  SURVEY. 


13 


$2,393,693.  Sail  cloth,  $1,236,415;  jute  and  hemp  l)ao’gino;,  $4,741,- 
922;  lubricating  oils,  $2,114,61$;  olive  oil,  $3,262,135;  kerosene, 
$1,896,169;  naplitha,  $5,938,656;  proprietary  medicines,  $2,279,263; 
perfnmerv,  $1,370,485.  Iron  and  steel,  in  bars,  ingots,  or  slightly 
wrought  as  wire,  nails,  staples,  etc.,  $22,198,895;  iron  and  steel  mann- 
factnres,  $19,594,273;  coal,  $25,238,605. 

Brazil. — Value,  $257,762,557.  Tlie  inpiorts  are  divided  into  four 
general  classes  as  follows;  Live  animals,  $1,116,102;  primary  mate- 
rials and  materials  used  in  the  arts  and  industries,  $50,192,456;  manu- 
factures, $144,143,489;  and  alimentary  substances,  $62,310,511.  The 
principal  imports  of  primary  materials  and  materials  used  in  the  arts 
and  industries  were;  1,001  metric  tons  of  cotto]i  sewing  thread; 
1,900  tons  of  raw  and  carde<l  cotton;  110  tons  of  rabbit  and  lieaver 
fnr;  5,762  tons  of  lead,  tin,  and  zinc  bars  and  ])lates;  2,213  tons  of 
copper;  7,246  tons  of  steel  l)ars  and  rods;  29,673  tons  of  iron  bars, 
rods,  and  jdates;  16,407  tons  of  iron  ingots;  15,000  tons  of  jnte  and 
hemp  yarn;  746  tons  of  woolen  yarn;  $1,885,522  worth  of  ]hne  lum- 
ber; 3,870  tons  of  linseed  oil;  2,634  tons  of  white  lead  and  zinc;  1,221 
tons  of  turpentine;  2,588  tons  of  snljdiur;  688  tons  of  liroom  straw; 
12,285  tons  of  malted  barley;  218  tons  of  hops;  254  tons  of  leaf 
tobacco;  1,736,213  tons  of  coal;  221,136  tons  of  coal  liriquets;  12,584 
tons  of  coke;  286,689  tons  of  cement;  6,726  tons  of  asphalt;  and  17,269 
tons  of  tar. 

The  pruicipal  imports  under  manufactures  were;  Manufactures  of 
cotton,  mixed  or  not,  $24,853,755;  guns  and  ammunition,  $2,281,197; 
carriages  and  other  vehicles,  $5,858,239;  manufactures  of  lead,  tin, 
zinc,  and  alloys,  $502,696;  manufactures  of  cop])er  and  alloys,  $2,663,- 
584;  manufactures  of  steel  and  iron,  $26,381,494;  musical  and  like 
instruments,  $1,802,465;  surgical  and  dental  instruments  and  mate- 
rial, $513,514;  mathematical,  physical,  and  optical  instruments  and 
material,  $650,372;  mannfactnri'S  of  wool,  mixed  or  not,  $4,027,937; 
manufactures  of  linen,  $2,587,043;  manufactures  of  jute  and  hemp, 
$316,156;  earthenware,  porcelain,  and  glass,  $4,538,992 ; machhiery, 
engines,  tools,  and  hardware,  $28,155,103;  manufactures  of  wood, 
$1,550,139;  manufactures  of  gold,  silver,  and  platinum,  $490,037; 
manufactures  of  straw,  esparto,  ]>ita,  etc.,  $477,692;  manufactures  of 
paper,  $5,678,381 ; manufactures  of  earths,  stones,  and  like  sulistanccs, 
$1,429,046;  manufactures  of  leather,  $1,317,838;  perfumery,  paints, 
inks,  etc.,  $2,686,271;  chemicals,  drugs,  and  ])harmaceutical  special- 
ties, $5,989,167;  manufactures  of  silk,  mixed  or  not,  $1,265,720;  and 
miscellaneous,  $17,564,219. 

Under  alimentary  substances  the  principal  im])orts  were;  333,146 
tons  of  wheat;  158,761  tons  of  flour;  34,241  tons  of  codlish;  3,618 
tons  of  preserved  fish;  1,916  tons  of  dried  fruits;  3,988  tons  of  con- 


14 


rilK  I'AK  AMERICAN  UNION. 


(ieiised  milk;  1,1S]  tons  of  hams  and  t)acon;  424  tons  of  canned 
meats;  2,05h  tons  of  canned  vep:etahles;  10, .532  tons  of  rice;  spirits 
and  fermented  lupiors  to  the  value  of  .SOOT, 01 5;  wines  to  the  value 
of  $1  l,3S0,57O ; 20,651  tons  of  jerked  beef;  1,900  tons  of  butter;  and 
1,7S3  tons  of  cheese. 

Cuba. — Value,  .1113,433,135.  As  classilied  the  ])ruicipal  imports 
were;  Stones  and  eartlis,  $1,070,947;  the  principal  import  under  this 
headhig  was  854,800  barrels  of  cement.  Mmeral  oils,  Ihtumen,  etc., 
.11 ,009,97 6 ; the  principal  imports  under  tliis  hea(  1 were  7,11 8,284  gallons 
of  crude  petroleum,  488,184  gallons  of  refined  ])etroleum,  and  585,883 
gallons  of  other  refined  oils.  Glass  and  crystalware,  $1,262,218;  the 
princi])al  iniiiorts  under  this  head  were  3,236  tons  of  tableware,  7,393 
tons  of  bottles,  459  tons  of  electric  lamjis.  Earthenware  and  por- 
celam,  $820,360.  Iron  and  steel,  $0,513,248;  the  principal  articles 
under  tliis  heading  were  11,650  tons  cast-iron  bars,  rods,  etc.;  4,192 
tons  other  manufactures  of  cast  iron;  20,918  tons  wrought-iron  and 
steel  bars  and  rods;  12,906  tons  sheets  and  plates;  3,726  tons  wire  and 
cable;  435  tons  fine  tools  and  imjdements;  4,816  tons  nails;  1,801  tons 
tin])late;  7,107  tons  piping  and  fittings ; and  12,455  tons  steel  rails. 
Chemical  products,  $3,062,802;  the  ]jrinci])al  imjiorts  under  this  head 
were  20,969  tons  commercial  fertilizers,  2,074  tons  acids,  426  tons 
dynamite,  21,340  tons  salt,  and  $251,511  worth  of  patent  and  jiro- 
prietaiy  medicines.  Oils,  soaps,  etc.,  $2,157,373;  the  prmcipal  un- 
ports under  this  classification  were  122,386  gallons  soap  oil,  358,648 
gallons  other  vegetable  oils,  1,095  tons  candles,  4,261  tons  common 
soap,  2,230  tons  soap  grease,  and  $517,830  worth  perfumes.  Cotton 
and  manufactures,  $9,278,430;  the  principal  unports  under  this  head 
were  711  tons  raw  cotton,  285  tons  thread  and  yarn,  4,496  tons  plaui 
tissue,  1,731  tons  twilled  pieces,  525  tons  knitted  tissues,  156  tons 
laces,  and  200  tons  ready-made  clothing.  Vegetable  fibers  (other  than 
cotton)  and  manufactures,  $3,360,276;  the  ])rincipal  imports  under 
this  head  were  380  tons  twine,  572  tons  cordage  and  rope,  11,881  tons 
sugar  bags,  and  1,696  tons  linen  tissue.  Wool,  hair,  and  manufac- 
tures, $1,181,783;  the  princiiial  imjiort  was  487  tons  woolens.  Woods 
and  manufactures,  $2,767,191;  the  principal  imports  were  10,890 
tons  common  lumber,  5,639  tons  furniture,  $741,593  worth  boxes 
and  cases,  $570,253  worth  barrels  and  staves.  Manufactures  of 
leather  and  furs,  $4,756,954;  the  principal  un])orts  were  861,884 
pairs  men’s  shoes,  1,783,245  ])airs  women’s  shoes,  1,186,948  pairs 
ciiildren’s  shoes,  and  260,534  dozen  pau’s  alpargatas.  Machmery, 
$9,136,992;  the  ])rhici])al  imports  were  sugar  and  spuit -making  ma- 
chinery, 57,659  tons,  worth  $5,178,394;  agricultural  machinery,  553 
t(.»ns,  worth  $117,337;  boilers,  948  tons,  worth  $116,186;  locomotives, 
worth  $423,697;  and  other  machineiy,  6,496  tons,  worth  $1,639,643. 


LATIX  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY. 


15 


Apparatus,  cars,  carriages,  etc.,  $3,061,803;  the  priiici])al  imports 
under  this  head  were  25,356  sewhig  machines,  1,262  typewriters, 
17,825  weighing  scales,  railway  coaches  worth  $166,520;  carriages 
and  accessories,  worth  $756,308;  freight  cars,  14,710  tons,  worth 
$1,021,788;  and  wagons  and  carts,  3,378  tons,  worth  $310,81 9.  Meats, 
$10,630,504;  the  principal  imports  were  17,402  tons  jerked  l)eef, 
7,659  tons  salt  pork,  1,928  tons  hams  and  shoulders,  29,698  tons 
lard,  and  1,815  tons  canned  meats.  Fish,  $1,569,648,  of  which  the 
principal  im])ort  was  8,849  tons  codfish.  Breadstuifs,  $12,989,272; 
the  prmcipal  imi)orts  under  this  head  were  18,482  tons  oats,  136,118 
tons  rice,  4,832  tons  harley,  74,843  tons  maize,  and  851,447  barrels 
flour.  Yegetaldes,  $4,491,995;  tlie  i)rinci])al  inpiorts  were  10,182  tons 


THE  PRODUCE  EXCHANGE  BUILDING  IN  THE  CITY  OF  HABANA. 


onions,  7,766  tons  ])eas,  14,823  tons  beans,  54,388  tons  potatoes,  and 
$498,600  worth  tinned  vegetables.  Beverages  and  food  oils,  $3,224,- 
093;  the  principal  imjiorts  were  1,319,908  gallons  olive  oil,  274,568 
gallons  cottonseed  oil,  31,411  dozen  bottles  white  wine,  454,468  gal- 
lons white  wine,  20,414  dozen  bottles  red  wines,  5,055,236  gallons 
red  wines,  413,678  dozen  bottles  of  beer,  and  430,095  liters  distilled 
liquors.  DaiiA'  jiroducts,  $2,657,031;  the  ])rinci])al  unjiorts  under 
this  head  were  15,61 1 tons  condensed  milk,  849  tons  butter,  and 
2,312  tons  cheese.  Other  alimentary  substances,  $4,299,048;  the 
principal  im])orts  were  11,697  tons  colfec,  720  tons  confectionen', 
and  4,288,608  dozen  eggs. 


LATIN  AMERICAN  EXPORTS  TO  LEADING  COMMERCIAL  COUNTRIES. 


IG  THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


■ |.u»l  ui  iionuu] |s;.i  1-  'sonuaiis;.]  £ 'OKilo 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY 


17 


' 191)9.  2 1910.  3 Estimates.  ' Estimated  in  pai't. 


18 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


In  total  of  values  tlie  United  ^States  leads  in  the  foreign  eoinmcrce, 
imports  and  exj)orts  together,  of  Latin  America. 


All  L(iti/i  Aiii<rir(t.  1911. 


Total. 

L'nited 

States. 

United 

Kingdom. 

(.lermany. 

France. 

Volume 

Ter  cent  of  whole ' 

S2,  4:31. 464. 101 

100.00 

.?7lll,. 521, 2.51 
2S.98 

Sjljo,  284,018 
23. 24 

S3o6,  208. 033 
14.  6.5 

•8209,  710,  .363 
8. 63 

Of  the  10  North  American  Repu1)lics — Mexico,  Guatemala,  Salva- 
dor, Honduras,  Nicaragua,  ('osta  Rica,  Panama,  Cuba,  the  Dominican 
Republic,  and  Haiti — tlie  United  States  takes  nearly  three-fourths  of 
their  exports  and  furnishes  more  than  half  of  their  im])orts. 


North  America.  1911. 


Total. 

United 

States. 

I'niled 

Kingdom. 

( iermany. 

France. 

Exports 

I'er  cent  of  whole 

Imports 

I’er  cent  ol  whole 

•8:334,550. 101 
100.00 

100.  00 

8241,074.  110 
72.  32 
8138,881,644 
53. 16 

•833,705.000 
10.08  ' 
8:33,526,4:39 
12.77 

825,315,258  ' 
7. 55 
S25,.540,773 

10.  16 

.817,  .560,977 
0.  25 
816, 119,091 
6.17 

Of  tlie  10  South  American  Republics — Argentina,  Polivia,  Brazil, 
Chile,  Colombia,  Ecuador,  I’araguay,  Peru,  Ih'uguay,  and  Vene- 
zuela— the  United  States  takes  more  than  one-fifth  of  their  exports 
and  sup])lies  about  one-seventh  of  their  imjiorts. 


South  America,  1911. 


Total. 

United 

States. 

United 

Kingdom. 

Germany. 

France. 

Exftorts 

her  cent  of  wliole 

8942,135,273 
100. 00 

8104,077, 163 

20.50 
8129,588.325 

14.50 

8237,625,274 
25. 11 
8261,424,396 
29.  27 

8139, 268, 530 
14.  7,S 
.8165, 125,372 
18. 4S 

.897, 70-5, 291 
10. 37 
878,265,004 
S.76 

Per  cent  of  whole 

100.  00 

While  the  Ihiited  States  leads  in  the  total  commerce  of  Latin 
America,  as  a whole,  and  in  the  commerce  of  the  North  American 
Re})ul)lics,  in  both  imports  and  exports,  controls  a trade  greater  than 
the  combined  trade  of  its  three  nearest  rivals,  the  United  Kingdom, 
Germanv,  and  France,  and  in  South  America  is  second  in  exports 
and  third  in  imjiorts,  yet  as  a lUiittiu'  of  fact  it  is  cpiestionalile  whether 
in  the  import  trade  of  Latin  Amei’ica  the  United  States,  with  its 
.1f20S,470,00()  in  values,  receives  as  much  commercial  advantage 
therefrom  as  does  Germanv  with  its  810Lti7d,()()t),  or  France  with  its 
$04, 384, 000.  The  reason  foi'  this  doulit  exists  in  the  character  and 
kind  of  the  im|)orts  from  the  Xhiited  States  as  compared  with  the 
imports  from  Furo])e. 


J.ATIX  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY. 


19 


The  Latin  American  imports,  and  ])articulaiiy  South  American 
imports  from  the  Uniteil  States,  are  for  the  greater  part  such  as  in 
ordinaiy  })arlance  are  denominated  “raw,’’  “unmanufactured,”  or 
“slightly  manufactured,”  while  the  imports  from  the  United  King- 
dom, (lermany,  and  France  are  almost  entirely  manufactures  of  a 
high  degree.  In  othei'  words,  in  imports  from  the  Ihiited  States  the 
greater  part  (in  some  cases  nearly  alli  of  the  value  of  the  articles  is 
re])resented  in  the  raw  material,  and  less  than  one-half  in  the  labor, 
skill,  and  industry  entering  into  their  manufacture.  The  converse 
is  true  of  the  imports  from  the  three  European  countries  mentioned. 
Therefore  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  the  $94, 384, ()()()  of  imjxirts  from 
l^rance  may  I'epresent  a greater  return  to  French  labor,  skill,  and 
industry  and  he  of  more  henelit  to  French  commerce  than  the 
$268,470,900  of  im{)orts  from  the  United  States  he  of  henelit  to  that 
country. 

In  illustration  of  this  point,  the  case  of  (’Idle  may  he  taken  as  an 
exam])le.  In  round  numbers  C’hilean  im])orts  from  the  United  King- 
dom in  1911  were  $40,800,000,  from  (lermany  $32,700,000,  from 
Ih'ance  $6,900,000.  and  from  the  United  States  $15,800,000. 

The  value  of  what  was  classified  as  mineral  ])roducts  was  over 
$25,000,000,  of  which  (lermany  furnished  $9,690,000,  the  United 
Kingdom  $7,462,000,  the  United  States  $3,980,000,  and  France 
$2,648,000.  Steel  and  iron  in  bars,  sheets  ami  j)lates,  ingots,  nails, 
piping,  wire,  and  steel  rails  acccumted  for  nearly  $3,000,000  of  the 
imports  from  the  Uniteil  States,  which  country  was  hut  little  or  not 
at  all  represented  in  cutlery,  household  and  kitchen  utensils,  tools, 
gas,  electric-light,  and  water  meters,  wagon  and  carriage  tires,  sad- 
dlers’ hardware,  j)i{)e  littings,  axles,  wire  calile,  carriages,  furniture 
and  car  springs,  bolts,  nuts,  screws,  and,  in  fact,  all  classes  of  highly 
wrought  iron  and  steel  goods. 

The  value  of  what  are  classitied  as  vegetable  products  was  over 
$13,000,000,  of  which  (lermany  furnushed  $2,757,000,  the  United 
States  $2,067,000,  the  Uniteil  Kingdom  $1,674,000,  and  France 
$412,851. 

(’ottonseed  oil,  rosin,  staves,  and  rough  pine  lumlier  accounted  for 
$1,686,300  of  the  imports  from  the  United  States. 

The  value  of  what  was  classified  as  textiles  and  mamd'actures 
thereof  was  $28,711,000,  of  which  the  United  States  furnished  only 
$796,211.  Of  this  amount  cotton  bagging,  rope,  twine,  thread,  flan- 
nel and  gray  shirting  accounted  for  $690,000.  In  linen,  wool,  and 
silk  it  is  scarcely  represented,  in  ready-made  clothing  of  all  kinds 
and  high-class  textiles  of  all  materials  the  imports  from  the  United 
States  were  of  a negligible  amount. 

The  value  of  what  was  classilied  as  comlmstibles,  oils,  and  paints 
was  $18,994,043,  of  whi(di  the  United  Kingdom  furnished  $9,141,060, 


LATIN  AMERICAN  E X PORTS  AN D I MPORTS 

COUNTRIES  — 

NORTH  AMERICAN  RERU  B L I C S 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1911 GENERAL  SURVEY. 


21 


Germany  $1,395,395,  the  Ihiited  States  $2,714,595.  Coal  oil,  most 
of  it  unrefined,  accounted  for  $2,320,305.  In  addition  there  was 
some  trade  in  turpentine,  luhricatin*!  oil,  a little  coal,  and  some 
parallin.  In  the  cheaper  kinds  of  prepared  paints  the  United  States 
makes  a showinp;. 

The  value  of  paj)er,  cardboard,  and  manufactures  thereof  was 
$4,052,960,  of  which  Geiniany  fuinished  $1,996,185,  the  Inited 
States  $1,086,240,  the  United  Kingdom  $453,330.  News  print 
paper  accounted  for  $736,351  of  the  imports  from  the  United  States. 
There  weie  some  printed  hooks  and  haid-c  checks,  bonds,  etc.,  hut 
for  the  most  jiait  the  United  States  was  practically  unrepresented  in 
high-class  paper  manufactures. 

The  value  of  what  was  classilied  as  pharmaceutical  and  chemical 
products  and  perfumery  was  $2,735,638,  of  which  Germany  furnished 
$1,036,016,  the  United  Kingdom  $677,330,  France  $400,843,  and  the 
United  States  $297,000. 

The  value  of  what  was  classilied  as  machinery,  im])lements,  and 
tools  was  $15,523,267,  of  which  the  United  Kingdom  furiushed 
$5,847,592,  Germany  $5,162,268,  and  the  United  iStates  $3,603,645. 
Agricultural  machinery  and  ini])lements,  with  some  sewing  machines, 
scales  and  balances,  adding  machines,  and  pianolas,  make  up  the 
hulk  of  the  imports  from  the  United  States. 

The  value  of  what  was  chissified  as  arms,  ammunition,  and  explo- 
sives was  $1,472,227,  of  which  the  United  States  furnished  over 
$294,737,  nearly  two-thirds  of  this  being  dynamite. 

It  must  not  he  understood  that  in  their  class  the  im])orts  fiom 
the  United  States  were  of  a lower  or  cheaper  grade  than  those  from 
other  countries;  (pute  the  contrary  is  true,  in  their  class  they 
were  as  a rule  the  highest  in  grade.  This  is  ])articularly  true  of 
leather,  steel,  and  iron  goods  of  all  kinds.  The  difficulty  is  that 
the  class  is  as  a lade  low,  in  other  words,  im])orts  of  the  kind  approach- 
ing raw  material. 

In  this  connection  a distiiudion  must  he  drawn  between  the  South 
American  republics  and  the  North  Amcilcan  re])uhlics  in  a com- 
parison of  the  character  of  their  impoils  from  the  United  States 
anil  from  Euroj)e.  In  the  North  American  rc])uhlics  the  imports 
from  the  United  States  as  compared  with  thosii  from  Europe  are 
of  a decidedly  higher  character.  In  Cuba  and  Mexico  particidarly 
very  many  of  these  imports  are  almost  on  a jiar  with  the  imports 
from  the  United  Kingdom  and  Germany,  and  this  higher  character 
in  imports  extends  in  a diminishing  degree  more  or  less  into  the 
Nortliern  republics  of  South  America — Colondua,  Venezuela,  and 
Ecuador.  For  example,  in  Chile  nearly  15  per  cent  of  the  total 
imports  are.  from  the  United  States,  yet  in  textiles  and  manufactures 
the  United  States  furnishes  less  than  3 ])er  cent,  and  this  3 per  cent 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


OO 


is  made  iij)  almost  eutiiely  of  cotton  hagyiag,  rope,  twine,  thread, 
and  low-gi'ade  cotton  (dotlis. 

In  ('nl)a  the  Unite<l  ^States  furnislies  a little  over  dO  pei'  cent  of 
the  total  imports,  and  in  textiles  ami  mannfactnres  about  one-sixth 
of  the  imjiorts  of  tfiis  class  of  goods.  In  cotton,  in  plain  weaves  it 
furnishes  $582, .dOO  out  of  a total  of  $2, .31)2, 000 ; in  twills  $283,000 
out  of  a total  of  $005,700;  in  knitted  tissues  $70,200  out  of  a total 
of  $1,015,300,  and  in  ready-made  clothing  $02,300  out  of  a total  of 
$254,000.  It  is  fairly  well  represented  in  i)assementerie,  pif[ues, 
cotton  velvet,  and  the  like.  In  wool  it  furnishes  $28,300  out  of  a 
total  of  $55,135  in  ready-made  clothing.  In  other  woolen  manu- 
factures it  is  hut  little  repi'esented.  In  silk  it  furnishes  $27,000 
out  of  $113,000  in  plain  silk  tissues.  It  furnishes  nearly  $50,000 
out  of  $100,700  of  ready-made  clothing.  In  other  silk  manufactures 
it  is  fairly  well  represented.  In  other  fillers — linen,  hemp,  etc. — 
it  is  not  very  well  represented.  The  same  comparisons  would  hold 
good  of  most  other  manufactures,  that  in  Cuba  and  in  other  North 
American  republics  the  imports  from  the  United  States  are  of  a 
decidedly  higher  grade  than  the  like  imports  of  the  South  .Vmerican 
re])ublies. 


Miller  Fbofo. 


r.: 


f - 


r. 


'-,V 


i 


A 


% 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1912— A GENERAL  SURVEY. 


‘ Fiscal  year  ending  Sept.  30,  1912.  ^ 1910.  * 1911. 


The  foreign  commerce  of  the  20  Latin  American  countries  for 
the  year  1912,  customshouse  valuations,  was  $2,812,114,436, 
of  which  amount  $1,241,773,366  represented  imports,  and 
$1,570,341,070  exports.  For  the  preceding  year  the  figures 
(revised  and  corrected)  are:  Imports,  $1,159,490,516;  exports, 
$1,283,232,640;  total,  $2,442,723,156.  The  increase  in  imports  for 
the  year  was  $82,282,850,  and  in  exports  $287,108,430,  or  an  mcrease 
in  the  total  trade  of  $369,391,280. 

The  population  of  these  20  Republics  from  the  most  reliable  sources 
of  information — estimates  in  many  cases,  and  in  these  cases  probably 
overestimates — amounts  to  about  74,373,000.  On  this  basis  the 
foreign  commerce  of  Latin  America  for  1912  was  $37.81  per  capita — 
imports,  $16.69,  and  exports,  $21.12. 

The  foreign  commerce  of  the  United  States  for  the  same  year  was: 
Imports,  $1,818,133,355;  exports,  $2,399,217,993;  total  $4,217,351,- 
348,  which,  on  the  basis  of  the  population  estimate  of  95,410,503  made 
by  the  Census  Bureau  for  1912,  shows  a per  capita  of  imports  of  $19.05 
and  of  exports  of  $25.15,  or  a total  of  $44.20.  The  per  capita  of 
Latin  American  foreign  trade  was  more  than  85  per  cent  of  the  per 
capita  of  the  United  States  trade.  In  other  words,  Latin  Americans 
per  individual  bought  within  $2.36  and  sold  within  $4.03  as  much  to 
outsiders  as  the  people  of  the  Lhiited  States  per  individual  bought  and 
sold  to  outsiders.  The  per  capita  of  Latin  American  foreign  trade  is 
many  times  over  the  per  capita  trade  of  such  countries  as  British 
India,  Japan,  and  China,  and  exceeds  that  of  Austria  Hungary,  Rus- 
sia, Italy,  Spain,  Portugal,  Roumania,  Bulgaria,  Servia,  Greece,  and 
Turkey. 

The  per  capita  trade  of  a number  of  the  Lathi  American  countries 
exceeded  the  like  trade  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  leading  western 
European  countries.  For  example,  the  per  capita  of  Cuban  com- 
merce— imports,  $58.24;  exports,  $80.02;  total,  $138.26 — exceeds 
that  of  any  of  the  countries  last  mentioned  and  is  over  three  times 
as  great  as  that  of  the  United  States.  The  Argentine  jier  capita  of 
$120.08  (imports,  $53.41;  exports,  $66.67),  the  Uruguayan  per 
capita  of  $100.12  (imports,  $49.25;  exports,  $50.87),  and  the  Chilean 
of  $74.83  (imports,  $34.87;  exports,  $39.96),  all  show  averages  eitlier 


4 


THE  PAN  AMEBICAN  UNION. 


above  or  comparable  with  those  of  the  leading  commercial  countries 
of  the  world. 

In  this  connection  it  must  be  taken  into  account  that  the  basis  of 
customshouse  valuations  of  imports  in  nearly  all  the  Latin  American 
countries,  and  m particular  in  such  countries  as  Argentina,  Uruguay, 
ami  Chile,  represents,  as  compared  with  the  United  States,  France,  Ger- 
many, England,  and  other  like  commercial  countries,  a gross  under- 
statement of  true  values.  This  is  due  to  valuations  based  on  fixed 
appraisements  and  limited  classifications  as  opposed  to  the  more 
accurate  valuations  made  under  the  tariff  systems  in  operation  in  the 
United  States  and  Europe.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  to  the  Argentine 
customshouse  valuations  of  imports  at  least  30  per  cent  must  be 
added.  In  some  classes  of  goods  100  or  even  200  per  cent  additional 
must  be  added  in  order  to  arrive  at  anything  like  real  values. 

If  these  adjustments  were  made,  the  per  capita  of  imports  in  the 
Latin  American  countries  would  be  increased  very  considerably, 
making  comparisons  with  other  countries  much  more  favorable  to 
Latin  America. 

TRADE  BALANCES. 

The  following  table  gives  the  trade  balances  of  the  Latin  American 
countries  for  the  years  1910,  1911,  and  1912.  Plus  (-f)  means  excess 
of  exports  over  imports  and  minus  ( — ) excess  of  imports  over 
exports. 


Countries. 

Trade  balance. 

1910 

1911 

1912 

Mexico 

+8.32,590,244 
+ 1 4,827,902 
+ 3,552,587 

- 124,091 
+ 1 1,406,171 
+ 481,754 

- 8,287,664 
+ 47,233,439 
+ 4,591,932 
+ 3,326,483 

+843,939,683 
+ 2,839,165 
+ 4,325,043 

- 536,213 

+ 492,166 

+ 52,588 

- 7,033,563 
+ 9,869,382 
+ 4,045,884 
+ 10,605,543 

+$57,663,409 
+ 3,334,075 
+ 3,167,325 

- 1,237,136 

- 1,555,612 

- 116,542 

- 7,806,969 
+ 47,076,087 
+ 4,167,350 
+ 7,408,930 

Salvador 

Nicaragua 

Costa  flica 

Cuba 

North  American  Republics 

+ 89,598,757 

+ 68,599,678 

+112,100,917 

Argentina 

+ 20,229,738 
+ 10,94.5,957 
+ 74,431,601 
+ 11,439,640 
+ 599,516 

+ 1 4,548,046 
+ 1 1,337,448 
+ 8,636,229 
+ 536,419 

+ 5,561,019 

- 40,849,753 
+ 9,461,308 
+ 68,107,486 

- 3,497,062 
+ 4,267,036 
+ 2 5,630,678 

- 1,606,096 
+ 9,612,020 

- 272,067 
+ 4,289,495 

+ 92,671,653 
+ 15,839,459 
+ 54,551,110 
+ 17,802,207 
+ 8,257,123 
+ 3 1,203,133 
- 1,039,817 
+ 20,805,150 
+ 1,684,800 
+ 4,691,968 

Bolivia 

Chile 

Paraguay 

Venezuela 

South  American  Republics 

+ 138,265,613 

+ 55,142,445 

+216,466,786 

Total  Latin  America 

+227,864,370 

+123,742,123 

+328,567,703 

11909.  2 1910.  3 1911 

The  remarkable  increase  in  the  foreign  trade  of  Latin  America 
in  1912  as  compared  with  the  preceding  year,  amounting  to  15  per 
cent,  was  more  or  less  unexpected  and  represents  an  increase  above 
the  average  increase  which  has  been  more  or  less  constant. 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1912. 


5 


The  following  table  shows  the  increase  in  Latin  America  trade 
for  15  years: 


Imports. 

Exports. 

Total. 

1912 

$1,241,773,366 

415,079,562 

$1,570,341,070 

495,342,937 

$2,812,114,436 
910, 422, 499 

1897 

Increase 

862,693,804 

199 

13.3 

1,074,342,937 

217 

14.5 

1,901,691,937 

208 

13.9 

Per  cent  of  increase,  15  years 

Average  yearly  per  cent  of  increase 

IMPORTS. 

Latin  America  imports  are  in  general  of  the  same  character  in 
all  of  the  countries.  In  most  of  the  countries  there  are  but  few 
manufactures,  and  none  of  them  from  the  European  or  North 
American  standpoint  would  be  considered  manufacturing  countries. 
Even  in  Brazil,  Argentina,  Mexico,  and  Chile,  where  enterprise 
has  accomplised  more  than  elsewhere,  the  lines  of  manufacture  are 
very  few  and  generally  the  output  small  as  compared  with  the  im- 
ports of  like  articles.  In  a very  limited  number  of  cases  high  pro- 
tective duties  give  a monoply  to  domestic  manufactures.  Refined 
sugar  is  an  example  of  this  monoply  in  several  states;  low-grade 
cotton  goods  in  Brazil  are  also  included  in  this  class.  But,  generally 
speaking,  tariff  duties  are  revenue  duties,  and  not  intended  to  dis- 
courage importations. 

The  demand  for  finished  manufactured  goods  is  great  in  all  of  the 
countries,  and  this  demand  includes  practically  every  line  of  European 
or  North  American  manufacture.  In  other  words,  whatever  is  sale- 
able in  New  York,  London,  or  Paris  is  also  saleable  in  Rio,  Buenos 
Aires,  Montevideo,  Santiago,  Lima,  Mexico,  Habana,  and  other 
Latin  American  cities. 

EXPORTS. 

On  the  contrary,  Latin  American  exports,  while  in  general  falfing 
in  one  class — that  is,  raw  materials  for  use  in  manufacturing,  metals, 
and  primary  food  products — ^yet  owing  to  the  great  differences  of 
soil,  climate,  rainfall,  and  other  natural  conditions,  proximity  or 
remoteness  to  markets  and  development  of  transportation  systems 
are  widely  differentiated  in  the  several  countries. 

The  greatest  development  of  mineral  wealth  and  the  largest  propor- 
tionate export  of  minerals  are  in  such  countries  as  Mexico,  Colom- 
bia, Peru,  Bolivia,  and  Chile.  But  there  is  a wide  difference  in  the 
character  of  mining  and  in  the  class  of  minerals  exploited  in  these 
countries.  Gold  is  produced,  but  in  no  very  great  quantities,  in 
many  of  the  countries,  but  only  in  Mexico  and  Colombia  does  the 
production  of  gold  attain  to  figures  of  world  importance.  Silver  is 
produced  in  many  countries,  but  only  in  Mexico  to  a considerable 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1912, 


7 


amount.  The  rarer  metals,  platinum,  vanadium,  and  the  like,  are 
found,  often  in  good-paying  quantities,  all  tlxrough  the  Andean 
country  from  Colombia  to  Chile.  Chile,  Peru,  and  BoUvia  are  the 
principal  producers  of  copper;  Cuba  of  iron  ore,  although  the  great 
deposits  of  Chile  and  of  Brazil  will  undoubtedly  soon  come  into  the 
market.  Mexico  and  Peru  are  at  present  the  principal  sources  of  the 
Latin  American  supply  of  crude  oils,  but  the  known  fields  of  Colom- 
bia, Venezuela,  and  Ecuador  will  no  doubt  soon  be  developed. 
Bohvia  is  the  great  source  of  Latin  American  output  of  tin  and 
bismuth. 

The  exportation  of  forest  products,  outside  of  rubber,  ivory  nuts, 
and  quebracho,  has  not  attained  in  any  country  the  importance  that 
it  is  destined  to  attain  in  nearly  all  of  them. 

Rubber  as  a forest  product  has  been  or  is  exported  from  all  of  the 
Latin  American  countries  except  those  of  the  southern  third  of  South 
America — that  is,  excepting  those  within  the  Temperate  Zone. 

The  export  of  woods,  particularly  fine  cabinet  woods,  can  scarcely 
be  said  to  have  made  a beginning  in  any  of  the  countries.  Its  prin- 
cipal development  has  been  in  the  countries  bordering  on  the 
Caribbean. 

The  great  possibiUties  of  the  animal  industries  in  nearly,  if  not  all, 
of  the  Latin  American  countries  as  a basis  of  an  export  trade  have 
been  taken  advantage  of  in  comparatively  few  countries.  Outside 
of  Argentina  (where  progress  in  this  Une  has  been  marvelous), 
Chile,  Uruguay,  and  southern  Brazil,  animal  industries  are  limited  to 
supplying  home  needs  and  the  exportation  of  by-products — hides, 
hoofs,  etc.  The  great  possibilities  of  western  Brazil,  Bolivia,  Peru, 
Ecuador,  Colombia,  and  Venezuela  as  meat-exporting  countries  await 
development  in  the  future,  and  even  Argentina,  Uruguay,  and  Chile 
have  possibiUties  for  exportation  of  animal  products  in  quantities 
vastly  beyond  the  present  export. 

Coffee  is  an  export  of  all  of  the  countries  bordering  on  the  Carib- 
bean, and  in  addition  Ecuador,  Peru,  and  Brazil — Brazil,  of  course, 
being  the  principal  source  of  the  world’s  supply  of  coffee. 

Cacao  is  produced  in  general  in  all  of  the  countries  producing 
coffee,  though  not  in  the  same  locaUties. 

The  export  of  grain,  wheat,  oats,  linseed,  Indian  corn,  flour,  bran, 
and  hay  is  almost  the  monopoly  of  Argentina,  although  Chile  exports 
some  small  quantities  of  these  farm  products  and  in  addition  beans 
and  fruits.  Outside  of  the  countries  named  most  Latin  American 
countries  are  importers  of  wheat  and  flour.  This  condition  will  exist 
for  some  time  to  come. 

Sugar. — Cuba  is  the  principal  sugar  country,  its  production  being 
fai  in  excess  of  all  the  rest  of  America.  But  the  Dominican  Repubhc, 
Haiti,  and  Peru  are  also  exporters. 


8 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


n 

H 

O 

a 

I 

pq 

P 

< 

Ph 

fH 

O 

O 

M 

H 

P 

n 

M 

Ph 

H 

OS 

M 

p 


United  States. 

1912 

*49,212,836 

4,532,361 

2, 627, 700 

2,891,838 

2,549,026 

5,865,908 

5,413,305 

65,416,475 

5,100,001 

7,302,484 

150,911,934 

53.65 

57,353,142 

1,791,911 

48,109,316 

16,806,341 

7,612,037 

2 2,588,168 

8312,000 

•5,700,000 

8 6,200,000 

6, 832, 438 

153,305,353 

15.96 

304,217,287 

24.49 

1911 

*56,573,492 

8 3,370,170 

1,815,051 

2,524,133 

2,754,940 

4,153,153 

5, 122, 950 

60, 015, 005 

4,120,483 

5,790,203 

146,239,580 

53.65 

129,701,069 

14.62 

275,940,649 

23.79 

o ^ 

France. 

i 

1 

1912  1 

$7,809,138 
436,882 
397,252 
190,382 
256,255 
424, 189 
680, 784 

7,706,064 

224,912 

1,050,416 

19,176,274 

6. 81 

36, 490, 020 

949, 885 

27,751,094 

7,201,061 

2,011,886 

2 714,426 

8 266,000 

8 1,300,000 

8 4,300,000 

2,616,400 

83,660, 772 

8. 71 

102,837,046 

8.28 

1911 

$9,336,642 

3 357,562 
386,026 
97, 771 
448, 264 
443,994 
387,964 
6,203,125 
213,455 
331,849 

18,206,642 

6.67 

36,885,758 

1,104,391 

22,744,839 

6,931,714 

1,718, 747 

1525,534 

342, 707 

1,407,114 

3,952,473 

1,857,564 

77,470,841 

8. 74 

95,677,483 

8.25 

Germany. 

1912 

$11,922,609 
2,250,862 
664,674 
487,969 
604,038 
1,503,944 
957, 806 
8,431,201 
1,628,286 
484,915 

28,936,304 
10. 28 

62,023,257 

6,440,316 

53,018,079 

33,189,070 

4,201,125 

2 2,381,573 

8 1,400,000 

8 4,300,000 

8 8,700,000 

3,199,389 

178,852,809 

18.62 

207,789,113 

16.73 

1911 

$12,781,095 

3 1,990,822 
533, 127 
300,685 
642,753 
1,704,746 
1,119,224 
7,234,657 
1,266,249 
439, 732 

28,013,090 

10.27 

63,886,345 

4,021,264 

43,180,830 

32,696,171 

3,242,634 

1 1,570,903 
1,770,406 
4,598,565 
7,894,644 
3,195,945 

166,057,707  ! 

ik  73 

194,070,797 

16.72 

United  Kingdom. 

1912 

$10,753,154 
1,739,598 
1,904,546 
546,473 
939,290 
1,391,003 
2,421,637 
15,397,649 
720, 242 
761,200 

36,574,798 

13.00 

115,109,149 
3,537,112 
77,615,548 
38,616,886 
7,838, 878 
22,844,473 

8 1,460,000 

8 8,000,000 

8 13,800,000 
4,284,886 

273, 106, 932 
28. 43 

309,681,730 

24.93 

1911 

! 

$11,984,485 

8 1,642,752 
1,543,828 
500, 029 
1,412, 298 
1,553,119 
2,273,386 
13,699,060 
775, 802 
886,517 

r 

105,378,307 

4,863,318 

74,695,592 

40,805,052 

5,838,789 

1 2,455,599 
1,802,094 
8,358,383 
12,648,379 
5,253,865 

1 

262,099,378 

29.55 

298,371,652 

25.73 

Total  from  all  countries. 

1912 

$91,331,155 
9, 822, 462 
6,774,859 
4,317,314 
4,966,820 
10, 187,686 
9,871,617 
125,902, 241 
8,217,898 
9,876,555 

281,268,607 

100 

373,307,865 
19,308,506 
308, 243, 736 
122,075,994 
23,964,023 

2 11,489, 104 
6,124,438 
25,066,354 
61,355,200 
20,568,939 

960,504,759 

100 

1,241,773,366 

100 

1911 

$102, 937, 136 
8, 166,670 
5,113,518 
3,560,939 
5,724,695 
8,967,561 
9,896,988 
113,266,997 
6,949,662 
7,948,117 

272,532,283 

100 

355,806,365 
22, 764, 849 
257, 164,128 
127,381,479 
18, 108,863 

1 8,007,629 
6,310,054 
26,429,875 
46,590, 102 
18,394,889 

886,958,233 

100 

1,159,490,516 

100 

Coimtries. 

Mexico 

Guatemala 

Salvador 

Honduras 

Nicaragua 

Costa  Rica 

Panama 

Cuba 

Dominican  Republic 

Haiti 

North  .American  Republics 

Per  cent  of  imports 

Argentina 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

Chile ; 

Colombia 

Ecuador 

Paraguay 

Peru 

Uruguay 

Venezuela 

South  American  Republics 

Per  cent  of  imports 

Total  of  the  20  Republics 

Per  cent  of  imports 

1910.  2 1911.  8 Estimates. 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1912, 


9 


OQ 

O 

Pi 

« 

W 

I 

P 

< 

H 

P 

O 

O 

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P 

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03 

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1 1910.  > 1911.  ‘Estimates.  < Estimated  in  part. 


10 


THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  TRADE. 

Four  countries  lead  in  Latin  American  trade — the  United  States, 
the  United  Kingdom,  Germany,  and  France — and,  generally  speaking, 
these  four  countries  are  rivals  in  the  same  class  of  trade,  both  imports 
and  exports.  They  together  control  about  three-fourths  of  the  total. 
In  the  field  of  Latin  American  exports  this  rivalry  is  real  and  active 
and  extends  over  the  whole  range  of  products,  except  to  Argentine 
meat  and  grain  exports.  In  imports  the  case  is  somewhat  different, 
since  the  United  States  in  fully  half  the  classes  has  scarcely,  if  at  all, 
entered  the  field  in  competition  with  the  three  European  countries 
named.  In  a few  classes,  such  as  mineral  oils,  breadstuffs,  and 
lumber,  it  enjoys  practically  a monopoly,  or  shares  this  monopoly 
with  other  American  countries. 

The  following  table  shows  the  proportionate  share  of  the  four 
countries  mentioned  in  Latin  American  trade.  Taken  as  a whole, 
exports  and  imports  together,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  United  States 
occupies  the  first  rank. 


Total  trade — All  Latin  America,  1912. 


Total. 

United  States. 

United 

Kingdom. 

Germany. 

France. 

V alue 

$2,812,114,436 

100 

$830,686,102 
29. 54 

$619,703,536 

22.03 

$394,754,566 

14.04 

$224,817,231 

7.99 

Per  cent  of  whole 

In  Latin  American  imports  alone  the  United  Kingdom  leads  by  a 
small  margin,  as  shown  in  this  table: 


Imports — All  Latin  America,  1912. 


Total. 

United  States. 

United  King- 
dom. 

Germany. 

France. 

Volume 

Per  cent  of  whole 

$1,241,773,366 

100 

$304,217,287 

24.49 

$309,681,730 

24.93 

$207,789,113 
16. 73 

$102,837,046 

8.28 

In  Ijatin  American  exports  the  lead  of  the  United  States  is  quite 
pronounced. 

Exports — All  Latin  America,  1912. 


Total. 

United  States. 

United  King- 
dom. 

Germany. 

France. 

VnInmA 

$1,570,341,070 

100 

$526,468,815 
33. 52 

$310,021,806 
19. 74 

$186,965,453 

11.90 

$121,980,185 

7.76 

Per  cent  of  whole 

As  regards  the  position  of  the  Lhiited  States  in  Latin  American 
trade,  as  compared  with  that  of  the  United  Ivingdom,  Germany,  and 
France,  a line  drawn  at  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  shows  a rather 


LATIN  AMERICAN  FOREIGN  TRADE  IN  1912. 


11 


startling  contrast  in  American  activities  north  of  this  line  and  south 
of  this  line. 

In  the  10  North  American  Repubhcs — Mexico,  Guatemala,  Sal- 
vador, Hondm’as,  Nicaragua,  Costa  Rica,  Panama,  Cuba,  Dominican 
Republic,  and  Haiti — the  United  States  takes  nearly  three-fourths  of 
their  exports  and  supplies  more  than  one-half  of  their  imports. 


North  America,  1912. 


Total. 

United  States. 

U nited 
' Kingdom. 

Germany. 

France. 

$281,268,607 

100 

$150,911,934 
53. 65 

$36,574,798 
13. 00 

$28,936,304 

10.28 

$19,176,274 
6. 81 

Per  cent  of  whole 

Exports 

393,369,524 

100 

283,965,903 
72. 18 

40,793,173 

10.37 

30,093,447 
7. 65 

18,451,765 

4.69 

Per  cent  of  whole 

In  the  10  South  American  Republics — Argentina,  Bolivia,  Brazil, 
Chile,  Colombia,  Ecuador,  Paraguay,  Peru,  Uruguay,  and  Vene- 
zuela— the  United  States  takes  only  about  one-fifth  of  their  exports 
and  supplies  less  than  one-sixth  of  their  imports. 


South  America,  1912. 


Total. 

United  States. 

United 

Kingdom. 

Germany. 

France. 

Imi>orts 

Per  cent  of  whole 

Exports 

Per  cent  of  whole 

$960,504,759 

100 

1,176,971,546 

100 

$153,305,353 

15.96 

242,502,912 

20.60 

$273,106,932 
28.  43 
269,228,633 
22. 02 

$178,852,809 
18.62 
156,872,006 
13. 31 

$83,660,772 

8.71 

103,528,420 

8.71 

